Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-11-25

glanced lnlcTcSIculN "Dput MIN. Wll!lO
the tongues of the others wag-ed I'M
haggingly-if l may be allowed the ex-
preston.
He soon made up his mind that the
inside Of the little house was as delight
fully quaint rs its exterior In the first
place, an oak wainscoting ran around
the walls nearly as high rs Tad's Shout
der. All the furniture was black with
age, and of the severest hair-cloth and
mahogany order, for, like the house, it
had been in being considerably over a
century. In the corner stood q tall,
pale-faced clock, that had monotonous-
ly licked away hundred and ten years,
second by second. On the mantle were
some sea-shells, a pair of china vases.
and small wooden ship, whitfield out
by Ephraim X. Small. And beneath the
mantle was large open fireplace,
where the fire itself leaped up inces-
sanity and rubbed its glowing hands
together, with warm smiles that were
reflected in the polished faces of the
headed andirons. Just such a
fire as one likes to sit in front of when
it is showing and sleeting and blowing
out-of-doors, and listen to tales of ship
wrecks and storms at sea.
The talk went on interruptedly till
dinner-time, and then came meal. to
which Tad did more than ample justice.
He said afterward that he as ashamed
to have eaten SO much. But when a
hungry growing boy is set down to cold
beef, and hot biscuit, and fresh butter,
and new gingerbread, with pie and
doughnuts besides, what else can be
expected?
After dinner Polly took Tad out to
make the acquaintance of the pig and
hens, while Mrs. Flagg cleared up the
dishes, during which operation Captain
Flagg, between the whiiFs of his pipe,
told her Tad's simple story. and men,
toned the boys expressed desire to get
work of some kind in the country.
"Why," exclaimed Mrs. Flagg, with
enthusiasm in her voice and dish-towel
in her hand, snow if that don't seem
providential like; Miss Smith ran up
to bring some yeast this morning. and
she was in a peck of trouble. Dan
Crosby-you remember Dan-he want
ed to 60 off to sea with you las sum-
merp''
The Captain intimated by grunt
that he rccollected the youth very well.
"Well, Dan had been working there
for year." the good lady went on,
land Miss Smith said she'd noticed he
was getting dretful sort of uppish
lately, and because she gave him a
talking to for smoking swcet-fern cigars
in bed, he told her ne wasn't going to
be ordered round by no waman, if he
knowed hisself, so he up and left, and
she paying of him two dollars week
and boardr'
"Td given him something morn a
talking to-" remarked Captain Flagg,
emphatically, as he knocked the ashes
from his pipe and rose to his feet. II
guess, Mary Jane" he continued, reach
ing for his hat, "I'll jest drift down to
Miss Smiths and sec how the land lays
If she amt shipped any one, that's
the very place for Tad" With which
remark the Captain rolled out of tho
door and down the street on his bencv-
client errand, while Mrs. Flagg, having
finished clearing away the dinner
things. took UP l;or knitting for the rest
of the aftei ROOM
Meanwhile, Tad and Polly were wan
dering about the premises, followed by
Bounce. who, being city-reared
puppy. seemed to find every thing as
delightfully."- novel and strange as did
Tad himself.
II never thought the country was SO
NICE" said Tad, with an expressive
sigh, as the two leaned over the garden
fence and looked down the wide quiet
street. An old-fashioned stage-coach,
drawn by three horses, was rumbling
along in the direction of the one hotel
locally called "tahvcrn," which
boosted of room where General La
fayette had slept. Thrice week this
antiquated vehicle made the journey
between Bixport and Middleboro-a
fourishing inland town, twenty miles
distant-with the mails and an occa-
.sional venturesome passenger. Farther
down, at the end of the ,thoroughfare,
the masts of the "Mary J.p outlined
themselves against the sky, and a
glimpse of Bixport river, on its way to
the ocean, could be seen.
dispose you've lived here ever since
you were born" continued Tad, lit
tie wistfully. To have been reared in
a peaceful home like this. with the low
ing care of parents continually about
one. seemed to homeless, orphaned
Tad the very highest happiness earth
could afford.
Polly opened her eyes very wide in
deed.
"Why-don't you know? How fun
N.Y." she exclaimed, turning wonder
ing face toward her companion.
As Tap hadn't the slightest concep-
ton of her meaning, he shook his head
in silence.
"Of course, you don't, though"
said Polly, recollecting herself. Come
with me-" she said. soberly, touching
Tad on the arm; and, curious to know
her meaning. he followed Polly through
the gate, and across the street to what
was locally known as the "meetin'-
house lot" Behind the little old
weather-beaten wooden church. on
either side Of which stood row of SOL
emn-looking poplars, was the village
burying- ground, into which, to Tad's
great wondcrment, Polly silently led
the way.
A short distance from the entrance,
q fiat, moss grown tombstone was
raised upon two slight brick elevations
at either end, on which, in almost il
legible letters, were the words:
"Sacred 70 the memory Of
DEBORAH SAYLES
AGED e.
Killed by ye Indiana
June ye q, A. D. 1874"
Sitting down on the old stone as on
bench. Polly motioned Tad to seat
beside her. Just in front of them stood
a plain white marble slab.